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Structural colour

Now you see it — now you don't

Nature volume 410, page 36 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

The dazzling iridescence seen in some hummingbirds1 and tropical butterflies2 arises from natural optical phenomena, the brightest of which originate in nanoscale structures that produce ultra-high reflectivity and narrow-band spectral purity3. Here we investigate the coloration of male Ancyluris meliboeus Fabricius butterflies4, which have patches of unusual microstructure on their ventral wing scales. We find that this highly tilted, multilayered arrangement produces a bright iridescence of broad wavelength range and generates a strong flicker contrast from minimal wing movement.

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Figure 1: Tilted multilayer ridging divides the observation hemisphere above the iridescent scales of the butterfly A. meliboeus to produce strong colour flicker.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Thin Film Photonics, School of Physics, Exeter University, Exeter, EX4 4QL, UK

    P. Vukusic & J. R. Sambles

  2. Mechanical Sciences Sector, DERA, Farnborough, GU14 0LX, UK

    C. R. Lawrence

  3. School of Biological Sciences, Exeter University, Exeter, EX4 4PS, UK

    R. J. Wootton

Authors
  1. P. Vukusic
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  2. J. R. Sambles
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  3. C. R. Lawrence
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  4. R. J. Wootton
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. Vukusic.

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Vukusic, P., Sambles, J., Lawrence, C. et al. Now you see it — now you don't. Nature 410, 36 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35065161

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